Tell the students that in the book Martin’s Big Words, they learned how one person can make a difference. Give examples of the time, talent, or treasure from the examples the students shared during the class discussion. Have students share one act of service they will do in the next week (helping a neighbor with yard work, giving old clothes away, helping the family clean the house).

Have the students brainstorm possible acts of service they can do without permission this week. Through hearing the variety of things their classmates choose this week, they learn that no one is too small to make a difference.

Anticipatory Set:

Say the words stegosaurus, conservation, segregation, and supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Tell the children that these are really big words and fun to say. Ask them to repeat the words after you. Ask the students if they know any other really big words. Have the class repeat the words suggested by the students. Explain to the students that some words are "big" words because they are very long and sometimes hard to pronounce, but at other times, words may be called "big" because they are about big, important ideas. Today they will be hearing a book called Martin’s Big Words, about the life of Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King, Jr. They will decide if Martin's words are called "big" because they are long words, or because they are about important ideas, or both.

• Before reading the book, show the title on the cover and say, "I wonder what big words the author is referring to in the title? Do you think they are long words or important words?" Read the book Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport. Stop periodically to check for understanding:  What does segregation mean? How did MLK work to change segregation? How did the government (mayors, governors, police chiefs, and judges) respond to the protests? What is the Nobel Peace Prize?
• After reading, ask the students to respond to the text and each other. Questions may include the following:  What did you learn about Martin Luther King, Jr.? How did he help others?  Have you ever done something nice or something that helped someone without being asked to do it? Why did you do it, and how did it make you feel?
• Tell the students that they will be learning another new, very big word. Write the word philanthropy in a display area and say the word. Have them repeat it several times. Tell the students that they have been talking about philanthropy -- the nice or kind things they do for others. Explain that philanthropy means "giving your time, talents, or treasure for the common good."
• Give examples of the time, talent, or treasure from the examples the students shared during the class discussion. (i.e. Aidan, you shared about your family helping a neighbor with yard work. Your family gave their time to help someone. You are philanthropists! Isabel, you shared about giving your old clothes away. You gave your treasure; you are a philanthropist!  Jamal, you shared that you helped your mom clean the house. You used your talent for cleaning to help your mom. You are a philanthropist!)
• Tell the students that in the book Martin's Big Words, they learned how one person can make a difference. Tell them they will have the opportunity to use what they learned soon.

Extend the lesson with a visioning activity that encourages children to think about what issues are part of their dreams for a better world. Cut out large cloud shapes for each student from light blue paper (9” x 12”). Have each student draw on their cloud a picture or symbols showing what they would like the world to look like in ten years. Help them focus on an area by asking what one world problem they would like to fix and make perfect (well-fed children, school for everyone, healthy planet, no more illness). When they are done drawing, students tell the class about their vision. They start by saying, “In ten years I would like to see . . .” Display all the cloud drawings on a bulletin board. Use the drawings as pre-reflection to help design a service project related to student interests.

• Rappaport, Doreen. Martin’s Big Words. Hyperion, 2007. ISBN-13: 978-1423106357